Think of Swell as the anti-surf camp.
There’s plenty of surfing, of course, but the similarities to other surf camps end there. For starters, the rooms are stylish — more boutique surf retreat than reggae-loving surfer digs. Then there are the legendary breakfasts: omelets, pancakes and crepes, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and fruit bowls.
Structured surf lessons take place each morning — an instructor alongside you and the head surf coach watching from shallow water, ready to offer learn-to-surf tips between riding waves. If you are serious about learning to surf, then Swell should be on top of your destination list. Highly recommended!
One holiday that works for everyone
Our family surf camp in Cabarete is built so parents and their teenagers get a real holiday together. We teach kids from age 13, so mum and dad and the older kids can share the same surf lessons, the same beach and the same adventures. Mum doesn’t have to cook. Dad doesn’t have to drive or wrestle with surf equipment on a roof rack. Everything is arranged.
Days mix surfing with day trips, culture and the other water sports Cabarete is known for. You learn, you explore, and in the evening someone else makes dinner. Swell has run as a small surf and watersports retreat here since 2009.
The best window for families is the summer holidays — July and August — when the waves are small and gentle and progress comes fast.
- 13+
- Minimum age for kids
- Jul–Aug
- Best time for families
- 2009
- Welcoming guests since
- Gentle
- Summer waves for learning
What makes a family surf holiday work here
The details that matter most when you book for the whole family, straight from our own experience.
- 13
- Youngest age we teach
- July & August
- Ideal months to visit as a family
- Small & gentle
- Summer waves for quick progress
Learning to surf together
We teach kids from as young as 13, which means the whole family can learn side by side rather than splitting up. Parents and teenagers share the same coaching, the same beach and the same small waves — and everyone gets to compare notes over dinner.
Summer is the sweet spot. In July and August the waves are small and gentle, exactly the kind of conditions that make learning quick and confidence easy to build. New surfers often stand up in their first days.
- Boards and gear are all provided — no roof racks, no rentals, no hassle
- Coaching pitched to real beginners of any age
- See how a typical week at Swell unfolds
More than surfing
Cabarete is one of the best places in the Caribbean to mix sports. Alongside surfing, families can try the other water sports the town is famous for, then break up the week with day trips into the mountains, rivers and waterfalls nearby.
The idea is simple: adventure trips mixed with local culture, so nobody gets bored and everyone comes home with a story. Browse our day trips and see why Cabarete suits active families.
The holiday parents actually get
The point of a family surf vacation should be that the adults get a break too. Here, meals are taken care of, transfers and trips are arranged, and the surf equipment is waiting for you at the beach. Mum steps away from the kitchen. Dad steps away from the wheel and the logistics.
What’s left is time together in the water and time to properly relax. If you want the fine print on rooms, meals and what’s included, our pricing page lays it out plainly.
Ideal conditions
to learn or to progress your surfing
Surf & Yoga In Paradise
We’ve been teaching surfing since 2009, and in that time over 9,000 guests have learned with us. Our structured method is built to get you standing and progressing in a way that’s safe, efficient, and enjoyable.
Every session follows a clear sequence, so you always know what you’re working on and why it matters for your next step.
You’re grouped with other guests at your level, so lessons move at the right pace — no waiting on people ahead of you, no being left behind. Coaches work in small groups and adjust to how fast each person picks things up.
Whether you’ve never stood on a board or you’re already surfing and want to progress, there’s a group that fits where you are.
- Consistent waves
- Waves for different levels
- Quality equipment
- Warm water
- 2 Sessions per day
- Small groups
- Experienced instructors
- Lessons in english
- Year round surf season
- Since 2009
Wingfoil
A new and exciting sport to learn; wingfoil. Looks hard but it actually has a short learning curve. Our beaches are amongst the best in the world for learning Wingfoiling.
- Steady side-shore wind
- Quick progress
- Safe learning
- Qualified instructors
Sleep (s)well.
A purpose-built surf retreat: a place to sleep in comfort, meet fellow travellers, chill between sessions, and eat delicious, home-cooked meals.
Every air-conditioned room has its own ensuite, a ceiling fan and crisp 100% cotton sheets. After an action-packed day in or on the water, you can sleep as well as you should. We have kept the palette calm and the beds generous: the real comfort and style us more “mature” folks are after.
At the centre of our surf retreat is the communal hub — an open living room and one huge dining table where the day winds down. Enjoy a game of pool with fellow guests, or let your body relax completely on the sofas and chairs.
Outside, a freshwater pool sits in a beautiful, palm-shaded garden, with ample loungers for the down time between sessions.
- Ensuite · AC · ceiling fan
- 100% cotton sheets
- Fresh breakfast & dinner
- Restaurants minutes away
- Communal living-room hub
- 24/7 staff onsite
- Fresh water pool
- Set in tropical garden
- Walk to restaurants & shops
- No need for a car
Easy & hassle free
3 Different international airports
Puerto Plata (POP) has nonstop flights from Miami, New York, Boston and Toronto. From the terminal Swell is just a twenty-five minute drive down the coast road — and our driver will be waiting for you at arrivals.
Puerto Plata (POP) is the closest airport to us but it isn’t the only one. Two more international airports sit within an easy drive: Santiago (STI) is about an hour and a half away, and Santo Domingo (SDQ) around three and a half — both worth a look if the fare or the timing happens to work better for you on the day you want to travel.
Whichever you choose, we’ll help you line up the transfer so the final leg is sorted before you touch down. There’s a full breakdown of routes, drive times and transfer options on the Getting here page.
Surf, Yoga & Adventure in a stunning setting — the pool, the breakfasts, the waves, the people, the country.
Don’t take
our word for it.
Google · Tripadvisor
Best trip ever! This experience had a personal touch to it you cannot find anywhere else. This was the perfect place to spend a birthday, and I will for sure return with more friends. Great experience that left me wanting more. The staff from instructors, housekeeping, cooks, all the way to security do a great job! This is a one-of-a-kind experience and I highly recommend giving it a try.
Questions,
answered.
Anything we’ve missed? Write to us — Swell's owner, Clare, will get back to you within a day.
We teach kids from as young as 13. That age minimum means teenagers and parents can share the same lessons and surf together, rather than being split into separate groups.
The summer holidays — July and August — are ideal. The waves in those months are small and gentle, which are perfect conditions for learning to surf and making quick progress. It also lines up neatly with school breaks.
Yes. Because we teach from age 13, the family learns side by side on the same beach with the same coaching. Everyone starts as a beginner together and progresses at their own pace.
Plenty. Cabarete is known for a range of water sports, and we mix surf sessions with day trips that combine adventure and local culture — mountains, rivers and waterfalls are all within reach.
No. Boards and gear are provided, so there’s no renting, no roof racks and no worrying about hauling equipment around. It’s all ready at the beach.
Swell is normally an adults-only retreat. For families, the difference is that we welcome teenagers from age 13 so parents and older kids can share the holiday. If you’re travelling without kids, the adult camp is your page.
Watersport paradise
Tell us your dates, how many people you are thinking about coming with, and we’ll send you a custom price and availability quote; almost instantly. Hasta pronto, see you soon.